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New Braunfels Herald Zeitung (Newspaper) - October 21, 2004, New Braunfels, Texas
Zamora, Parker square off in debate
By Ron Maloney
Staff Writer
Democrat incumbent Cristina Zamora and Republican challenger Greg Parker squared off Tuesday night, seeking to make their case for who should be the next Precinct 3 county commissioner.
Zamora highlighted her record and ability to attain goals for her constituents by building consensus with a Republican court majority and working with social and helping agencies to address issues in her precinct.
Parker charged she isn t as in touch with her constituents and her precinct as she should be and said lie has die vision and the drive to do a better job.
The pair were among candidates who appeared at an election forum sponsored by the Comal County Area League of Women Voters.
See COMMISSIONERS, Page 3A
Building dreams
Bulverde couple Mf opens UBuildlt franchise.
CHC to offer EMS training
By Leigh Jones
Staff Writer
I’he Central Texas Technology Center will expand its workforce training opportunities with the addition of an Emergency Medical Services Academy.
Beginning in january, students will be able to take classes toward emei gency medical technician and paramedic certifications.
Program Director Wynn Cordy said after receiving their certifications, sui dents would be qualified lot jobs in fire departments, hospitals, clinics or doctor’s offices and ambulance crews.
“Before, local students had to drive to San Antonio or Austin," he said. “Now they can do their training and their clinical studies right here ’’
See CTTC, Page 3A
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21,2004
Zeitung
AT A GLANCE
■ What: LULAC press conference
WI When: 4 p.m. Friday
R Where: Steps at City Hall
■ Why: LULAC to denounce recent city firings
Workers in recent firings named
By Ron Maloney
Staff Writer
A Hispanic advocacy group will hold a press conference on the steps
of city hall Friday denouncing the recent firings of city street department workers.
George Alejos, a director with District XV of the
League of United Latin American Citizens in San Antonio (LULAC), said his agency would conduct a city hall press conference at 4 p.m. Friday.
“We’re going to protest the perceived improper and malicious firing of eight Hispanic employees who have come to LULAC for assistance,” Alejos
said. “We want to make the public aware and the media aware of the unfair treatment they’ve received from the news media, because they were
perceived to be doing criminal acts which in fact turned out not to be true.” Documents released by
See FIRINGS, Page 3A
MEETING 4B BOARD
A 4B board meeting postponed, meeting was not officially posted at city hall. Page 2A
By Ron Maloney
Staff Writer
PLAYOFFS
Cardinals' extra-inning home run foils Astros; Red Sox advance to World Series. Page 8A
Serving New Braunfels and Comal County since 1852.
COURTHOUSE CROWDING
Wednesday was another “monster docket” day in Comal County’s courts-at-law.
And when judge Brenda Chapman worked in her second-floor courtroom, it w as in front of a standing-room only crowd — with about a dozen extra guests thrown in.
Those extra guests were sheriff’s deputies and fire marshal’s inspectors who were on hand to study — and address — any security and occupancy concerns.
City and county officials said Wednesday’s docket day went well.
Chapman and County Clerk Joy Streater introduced the “monster docket” concept a few months ago to combine two misdemeanor docket days into one.
T he idea was intended to provide prosecutors with more out of court time to negotiate plea agreements and clerks with additional days for office tasks — albeit at a cost of a long, difficult day every other Wednesday.
Chapman said the “monster docket’’ would have to be tweaked to make it work, and the staff has been doing adjusting it.
A few weeks ago, Assistant City Fire Marshal Bubba Conran was called to the courthouse to investigate concerns about overcrowding.
He recommended changes that included dispersing people waiting for court to waiting areas in the courthouse annex and mechanical changes, such as fixing courtroom doors to open outward in case of fire.
Two weeks ago, Streater said, an extra-heavy docket day — 485 cases — combined with a clerical glitch to back the process up.
“We shut down a couple of offices and manned it,” Streater said. “We got done about 6:30 p.m.”
Streater sent out an e-mail to other county and city officials asking for a meeting to discuss making the process run more smoothly.
“You don’t go into a football game without a huddle,” she said.
What emerged was a plan tried Wednesday to set up a separate office for assistant district attorneys to conduct all business but that which must involve the judge, freeing up area and reducing noise in front of the courtroom rail.
Preliminary paperwork was handed out in the hallway outside the courtroom.
New Braunfels Fire Marshal Darren See COURTHOUSE, Page 3A
Photos by DAVID INGRAM, Herald Zeitung
Comal County Fire Marshal Lyn Manford, left, sheriff's deputy Harvey Hueter and Comal County Sheriff Bob Holder converse on the stairs of a crowded Comal County Courthouse Wednesday morning.
Comal County Courthouse court security officers Chris Vargas, left, and Daniel Weaver watch one of the entrances to a crowded courthouse.
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DEAR ABBY 10A CLASSIFIEDS UA COMICS 9A
CROSSWORD 9A FORUM 4A
OBITUARIES 3A SPORTS 8A
TV GRIDS 10A
Study to find ways to avoid overcrowding in courtrooms
Vol. 153, No. 294 12 pages, 1 section
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